Temporary Wizard Files (~$name.WIZ) Appear on Hard Drive

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c

SYMPTOMS

Temporary files that begin with a tilde (~) and have a .WIZ extension have appeared in the directory where your Word for Windows wizards are stored (usually, C:\WINWORD\TEMPLATE).

CAUSE

When you create a new document in Word, Word creates an owner file. Information you enter into the wizard during its operation as well as information about who is currently using the file is stored in the owner file. This file remains until you save the document or quit Word. Closing all open documents within Word has no effect.

Normally, you can add NoOwnerFiles=Yes to the Microsoft Word 6.0 section of the WINWORD6.INI file to prevent the creation of hidden owner files. However, this option does not work when you use the wizards.

For additional information about hidden temporary files and why they sometimes accumulate on your hard disk, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q78386
   TITLE     : Hidden Temporary Files Left on Hard Drive

STATUS

Microsoft is researching this problem, and we will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

The wizard owner files do not generally pose a problem to system operation.

WORKAROUNDS

Method 1: Rename the wizard to have a DOT extension. The drawback to this

          method is that you will lose the Wizard's functionality.

          macro below should be stored globally (in the NORMAL.DOT
          template). It calls the Wizard, reattaches to the Normal
          template, changes the hidden attribute of the wizard owner files,
          and removes the owner files after completing the StartWizard
          macro.

          WARNING: ANY USE BY YOU OF THE CODE PROVIDED IN THIS ARTICLE IS
          AT YOUR OWN RISK. Microsoft provides this macro code "as is"
          without warranty of any kind, either express or implied,
          including but not limited to the implied warranties of
          merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose.

          Sub MAIN
          FileNewDefault
          FileTemplates .Store = 0, .Template = "c:\public\mywizard.wiz",
          .LinkStyles = 0
          Call StartWizard.MAIN
          FileTemplates .Store = 0, .Template = "NORMAL", .LinkStyles = 0
          On Error Resume Next
          SetAttr "c:\public\~$wizard.wiz", 0
          Kill "c:\public\~$wizard.wiz"
          End Sub

MORE INFORMATION

Wizard owner files are hidden files that are 54 bytes in length and are stored in the same directory as the wizard. The files are named after the wizard that is in use, but the first two letters are changed to ~$. For example, AWARD.WIZ would have an owner file named ~$ard.wiz.